To celebrate the memory of Midwest Hot Rodding icon Barry Lobeck, Ginny Lobeck and the staff at Lobeck's V8 Hot Rod Parts in Cleveland will select a new award in his memory at the Goodguys 14th PPG Nationals, July 8-10 in Columbus, OH. He passed away January 6th, 2011. Starting this year, the award will be selected annually at the Goodguys PPG Nationals marking a new tradition in his native Ohio.
A staple of the Midwest hot rod scene since 1974 when his flamed '40 Ford coupe landed on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine, Lobeck and his wife Ginny operated Lobeck's V8 Shop & Hot Rod Parts since 1984 as well as the Just a Hobby chassis shop in Cleveland, Ohio. Together they turned Lobeck's into a "one stop shop" for hot rodders offering everything from door hinges to complete turnkey rods & customs.
A native of Springfield, Lobeck was one of the most popular hot rod builders outside California, building a decades-long string of low slung traditionally styled hot rods. Goodguys enjoyed a longstanding business and personal relationship with Barry Lobeck over the years and look forward to being the host event of the Barry Lobeck Memorial Award.
"It's a privilege to honor Barry in Columbus," said Goodguys President Marc Meadors. "He was a towering figure in the Midwest hot rod scene. His influence was felt nationwide both from a design and manufacturing standpoint. He enjoyed driving a hot rod to Columbus and hanging out with his friends and business partners. This will be a great way to honor his legacy."
The award itself will be perpetual, allowing each recipient to hold on to it for a year. The winner's names will be engraved on the award before it is passed on to future recipients.